Accelerator



Patented July 8, 1924.

I UNITED STATES LLOYD 1V1. WILLIADZSAND PERCY J. WILLIAIII$, FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

ACCELERATOR.

Application filed May 14,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LLOYD M. lVILLIAMs and PERCY J. lVILLmMs, citizens of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Accelerators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in accelerators for automobiles, particularly automobiles of the type in which the foot control throttle valve operating mechanisms or accelerators are not a part of the factory equipment thereof and the invention resides in the provision of a simply constructed, reliable and comparatively inexpensive mecha nism of this nature which is constructed and arranged to permit of independent operation of the foot and hand control operating means such that the operation of the foot mechanism will not effect the hand operated means andvice versa.

An object of the invention is to provide accelerator mechanism of the character described which may be very quickly and eas ily attached to the throttle valve operating mechanisms of automobiles of ther-type above referred to, by simply disconnecting the factory equipped connecting rod between the throttle valve and hand operated crank arms at one end of the rod, attaching to said disconnected end and the hand operated crank arm, the accelerator mechanism of the invention and mounting the pedal in the usual manner on the floor boards.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide an accelerator mechanism of the character described in which the factory equipped connecting rod in the throttle valve operating mechanismneed not be entirely removed and another substituted as is commonly the case in applying accelerators to automobiles of the type herein referred to, thus simplifying the construction of our attachment, reducing the cost thereof and making possible a quicker and easier attachment' of the mechanism.

A further object is to provide in accelerators of the character described a novel and convenient form of attaching or clamping means for operatively associating the foot operated means of the invention with thefactory equipped hand controlled throttle valve operating means.

The invention further resides in the particular combination, inter-relation and asso- 1923. Serial No. 638,801.

ciation of particularly constructed parts of the mechanism which tend to provide for a general lmprovement 1n accelerator mechanisms by way of insuring smoothness and ease of operation, facilitating the attachment thereof and decreasing the cost of manufacture. 7 I J lVith the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated'in the accompanying drawings, and set forth in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may beresorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Referring to the drawing: Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of the device of our invention showing it as it would appear when in use. Fig. 2 represents an enlarged fragmentary top plan View of a detail of the invention.

Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 represents an end View of said mechanism shown in Figs. Qand 3.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a modified form of clamp.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of said modified form.

Fig.

is an end view of said modified form.

Referring to the drawing wherein we have illustrated in detail one embodiment of the lnventlon, 1 designates the foot boards of an automobile, 2 the steering mechan sm and 3 the standard hand operated mechanism including the hand operated crank arm 4, 4 the throttle valve crank arm of the carburetor 5 and the connecting rod 6 pivotally.

rod is bent back and diverged from the.

straight portion of the rod 'as at. l2 and provided on its extremity with right angularly directed portion 13. A shoulder 14: provided where the rod is bent back upon thereon and abutting a stop member 16 fixed to the outer extremity of the rod. the other end of the spring engaging one of the sears 9. On one side of the body portion is a longitudinally grooved extension 17 in which the disconnected end of the connecting rod 6 is adapted to be clamped, there being an opening 18 in one end of this portion through which the portion 13 of the connecting rod extends. A clamping plate 19 is extended transversely across the body portion and is adapted to engage upon and clamp the connecting rod 6. The plate is held in place by a screw 20 extending through a slot 21 in the plate, said screw being turned in a threaded opening in the body 9. The body 9 and plate 19 are provided with cooperating angularly disposed portions 22 and 23 between which a flexible tube 24-. is clamped. The tube extends to the foot operated mechanism and acts as a guard and a guide for a resilient wire element 25, which element 25 is fastened to the member 16, on the end of the rod 12 and to the foot mechanism. Thus, it will be seen that the one clamping plate serves with the body portion to hold the connecting rod and flexible cable or tube, securely in place, The foot mechanism comprising a pedal base 26 is adapted to be secured onto the foot boards and a pedal 27 is pivoted thereon. One end of the cable or tube is stationarily but de tachably connected with the pedal mounting and the corresponding end of the wire is similarly connected with the forward portion of the pedal.

In operation of the mechanism. when the pedal is depressed it pulls on the wire and causes the slide or clamp to slide on the rod 12 against the action of the spring and this pulls on the connecting rod 6 so that the throttle valve cranlr arm. is moved to open the throttle. This movement takes place without causing movement of the hand operated crank arm or placing strains on the connections or bearings, the spring tending to equalize the strains so that this is accomplished. When it is desired to operate the hand operated mechanisms, this is effected in the usual manner and when the hand operated crank arm is moved it will, through action of the rod 11, move the entire mechanism bodily, the flexible, resilient cable and wire swinging and permitting this movement without affecting the pedal mechanism. To facilitate the attachment of the accelerator mechanism of our invention, the

portion 13 is provided with a transverse opening 28. After the portion 13 is inserted through the opening in the end of the hand operated crank arm, a cotter pm 29 is inserted through the opening 28 to es tablish the connection herein referred to.

One of the essential points of the inven tion is the construction and arrangement of the slide and clamp means and the elements immediately associated therewith. This means not only serves to attach the mechanism of our invention to the regular equipment of an automobile, to hold the flexible tube in proper position but also serves as a support-for the short rod on which the clamp slides and as a simple and effect ve means for establishing a resilient connection between the two crank, arms whereby the hand and foot operated mechanisms may be independently operated, one, without aflt'ecb ing the other. The outer side of the grooved portion 17 and the angularly disposed portions 22 extend above the plane of the body portion in order that the ends-of the clamping plate 19 may be caused to abut these extended and opposed portions and wil therefore be securely held in place.

Referring to Figs. 5, 6, and 7, we have shown a slightly modified form of clamp and slide in which the clamp and slide co1nprises a body portion 30having a laterally extended longitudinally grooved portion 31 adapted to receive a connecting rod, not

vIOU

shown, which portion 31 is provided with an opening 32 for the same purpose as previously described. The tube as shown at 33, is held in the modified form of the invention by a clamping plate 3 1 having a flat portion 35 through which a screw 36 is inserted, said screw being turned in a screw threaded opening in the body portion 30. The remaining portion of the plate is of an inverted U-shape and adapted to clamp between it and the body portion said tube, as shown in the drawings. One extremity of the Ushaped portion is longer than the other and provided with an opening 37, through which opening a hook-like extension 38 provided on the body is adapted to extend. This hook-like extension 38 provides for a hinge connection of the clamping plate 34. The clamping of the connecting rod, not shown, is provided for by a substantially flat clamping plate 39 which is adapted to extend over the grooved portion 31 so as to engage upon and hold the connecting rod. The plate 39 is held in place by a screw 40 corresponding to the screw 36. As shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, the plate 39 may be held in place and caused to clamp the rod by being mounted beneath the screw 36 thereby providing for the use of but one screw only and simplifying the arrangement. Other than these features, the clamp and slide is substantially the same asin the previously described formof the invention.

24 permits of the setting up. or attaching of the accelerator with, the parts in proper relationiregardless of irregularities in lengths of the rod 6. To compensate for wear and loosening of the parts, the screw .20- may be loosened'and the tube 24. adjusted and then,

clamped in the proper position.

V-Ve claimi V 1. In an accelerator, the combination with the hand operated crank arm, the throttle valve crank arm and the connecting rod between said arms of the throttle Valve controlling mechanism of anautomobile, of a member to which anextremity of the connecting rod after being thus disconnected from the hand operated crank arm, is secured, a rod on which said member is slidable having an angularly directed portion pivoted to the hand operated crank arm, a spring mounted on the second named rod and against the action of which said member slides, a pedal mechanism, a tube connected with said member and a' flexible wireextending through the tube having one extremity fastened to one end of said second named rod and its other extremity conne cted with the pedal.

2. In an accelerator of the-character described, the combination with the hand oper back upon itself near one end and having the extremity of the bent back portion pivmember slidable on the rod, a spring on the rod against the action of which said member is caused to slide, a pedal on the mountv ing, a flexible tube attached to the pedal mounting, means for clamping said tube and said connecting rod upon said'member and a flexible wire slidable through the tube and connected at its ends with the pedal and an extremity of said second named rod.

3. In an accelerator of the character described, the combination with the hand operated crank arm, the throttle valve crank arm and the connecting rod between the crank arms of an automobile,'of a roaming bentback upon itself near one end andhaving the extremity of the bent back portion pivoted to the hand operated crank arm, a member slidable on the rod, a spring on the rod against the action of which said mem-' ber is caused to slide, a pedal on the mounting, a flexible tube attached to the pedal mounting, means for clamping said tube and said connecting rod upon said member and a flexible wire slidable through the tube and connected at its ends with the pedal and an extremity of said second named rod, said member having a longitudinally grooved portion on said member in which said connect ing rod engages. The clamp in adjustably securing-the tube arm and the rod adapted to connect saidcrank' arms of an automobile, of a short rod having one end bent back and connected at the extremity' o-f' the bent back portion with said hand operated crank arm, a member slidable, on the. rod, a spring-against the action of which said member is caused to slide, said member comprising a body portion having ears through'which said short rod extends, a longitudinally grooved portion on said member adapted to receive said connecting rod, an upstanding portion on u said member, a pedal on the mounting, a

flexible tube attached to the pedal mounting atone end and adjacent its other end engaging saidupst'anding member and the bodyiportion, a clamping plate adapted to clamp upon the tube and said connecting rod, a fastening element for adjustably securing the clamping plate in place and a flexible wire extending through the tube and 7. attached at one end to the pedal and at its other end to said short rod.

5. The combination with the hand operated crank arm, the throttle valve crank arm and a rod having one end connected with the throttle valve crank arm, of a member pivoted tothe hand operated crank arm, a slide'movable' on said member, a'

spring againsttheaction of which the slide moves, a: grooved portion on the slide having an opening therein adaptedto receive I in the-groove and openingthe other portion oted to the hand operated crank arm, a"

atedYa-nd throttle valve crank arms of an automobile, of a rod connected at one end with the throttle valve crank arm, a member connected with the hand operated crank arm, a slide movable on said member, a spring against the action of which the slide moves, a plate adapted to clamp said rod on said slide and havinga slot therein, a screw extended through the slot for clamping the "plate uponthe'rod, said slot permitting movement of the plate to one side of the rod, a pedal and means of operative connection between the pedal, slide and said member. I i i 7." The combination with the hand operatedand throttle valve crank arms of an automobile, of a rod connected at oneend said slide and having a slot therein, a screw extended through the slot for clamping the plate upon the rod, said slot permitting movement of the plate to one side of the rod, a tube adjustably engaged between the slide and said plate and adjustably held thereby, a pedal, a tube, a flexible element extending through the tube and connected at its ends with said member and said pedal.

8. The combination with the hand operated crank arm and the throttle valve crank arm of an automobile, of a rod connected with the throttle valve crank arm, a member pivoted to the hand operated crank arm,

' a slide on said member, spring means against the action of which said slide moves, said slide having an opening therein, said rod having one of its ends deflected and extended through said opening, means for clamping said rod on'said slide, a flexible element connecting said member with said pedal and a guide attached to the slide and with which said wire cooperates.

9. The combination with the throttle valve crank arm and the hand operated crank arm of the throttle valve controlling mechanism of an automobile, of a member pivoted to the hand operated crank arm, another member connected with the throttle valve crank arm, a movable member on the first named member to which the second named member is connected, a pedal, a flexible element secured at one end of the pedal, a flexible cable through which the flexible element is movable, said cable and flexible element being, one of them, connected with the first named member and the other of them, connected with the movable member, a spring tending to hold the second named member extended and means for clamping the second named member on the movable member.

10. The combination with the throttle valve crank arm and the hand operated crank arm of the throttle valve controlling mechanism of an automobile, of a member pivoted to the hand operated crank arm, another member connected with the throttle valve crank arm, a movable member on the first named member to which the second named member is connected, a pedal, a flexible element secured at one end of the pedal, a flexible cable through which the flexible element is movable, said cable and flexible element being, one of them, connected with the first named member and the other of them, connected with the movable member, a spring tending to hold the second named member extended and means for clamping the second named member on the movable member, said second named member having 11. The combination with the throttle valve crank arm, the hand operated crank arm and the connecting rod between the crank arms of the throttle valve mechanism of an automobile, of an accelerator mechanism subject to attachment to the elements herein named upon disconnecting the connecting rod from the hand operated crank arm, a member pivoted to the hand operated crank arm, a member movable on the first named member, means for clamping the disconnected end of the connecting rod onto said movable member, a spring tending to hold the connecting rod extended and thethrottle valve closed against the action of which said movable member is moved, pedal mechanism and means of connection between the pedal mechanism, the movable member and the first named member providing for movement of the movable member independent of the first named member upon actuation of the pedal mechanism and for movement of the connecting rod without moving the pedal mechanism upon actuation of the hand operated crank arm.

12. The combination with the throttle valve crank arm, the hand operated crank arm and the connecting rod between the crank arms of the throttle valve mechanism of an automobile, of an accelerator mechanism subject to attachment to the elements herein named upon disconnecting the connecting rod from the hand operated crank arm, said connecting rod having an angularly disposed terminal, a member pivoted to the hand operated crank arm, a member movable on the first named member, means for clamping the disconnected end of the connecting rod onto said movable member, a spring tending to hold the connecting rod extended and the throttle valve closed against the action of which said movable member is moved, pedal mechanism and means of operative connection between the pedal mechanism, the movable member and the first named member providing for movement of the movable member independent of the first named member upon act-uation of the pedal mechanism and for movement of the connecting rod without moving the pedal mechanism upon actuation of the hand operated crank arm, said movable member having an opening therein for reception of theangularly disposed terminal of the connecting rod.

LLOYD M. WILLIAMS. PERCY J. WILLIAMS. 

